ADVERSARIAL Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

adversarial

adjective

ˌad-vər-ˈser-ē-əl

Definition of adversarial

as in hostile

marked by opposition or ill will the relationship between the president and the congress should not be adversarial if anything is to get done

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of adversarial These controls should be technically independent of the system being controlled and regularly tested under adversarial conditions. — Babajide Ojuola, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026 For the latter category, the most effective results would probably come from a platform getting close to an adversarial spacecraft via what’s known as rendezvous and proximity operations (RPOs). — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026 The event aims to inject some levity into an historically adversarial relationship, reminding both sides of the spirit of the game. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 Yet the episode also offered evidence of how natural resources provide a bulwark against an adversarial White House. — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adversarial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for adversarial

Adjective

About 70% of the members of Brazil’s lower house and 80% of the Senate are considered to be hostile to environmental and climate agendas, according to the observatory.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
In a turnabout from Orbán’s hostile approach to Kyiv, Magyar’s government has expressed solidarity with Ukraine and designated Russia a national security threat.

— Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of hostile

Adjective

As for gas, it has usually been treated as a waste product to be burned off; because there are so few pipelines to bring it to market, West Texas gas prices have even dipped negative this year.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
The mood in the markets turned sharply negative today as traders sold off stock around the world.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of negative

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ad verbum

adversarial

adversaries

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“Adversarial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adversarial. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of adversarial

adjective

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